| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/13/2009 3:38:49 AM | News reports say Starbucks intends to sell Instant coffee in grocery stores starting as soon as next month. Brand recognition...
Do you Remember when there were A&W Rootbeer shops everywhere? Is Starbucks going the way of A&W?...A few shops here and there, but grocery store becoming their main method of selling coffee.
Are you ready to buy Instant Starbucks?
Vanilla Ice Cream w/ Coffee bean
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
top with1/2 tblspn of instant, ground coffee...rough grind roasted coffee beans | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/13/2009 6:24:05 AM | We were talking about Starbucks just yesterday and apparently some have closed. We even have a drive-thru Starbucks, but, never see anyone in line. It is way over priced and nothing "instant" is good..  | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/13/2009 6:48:00 AM | I saw that press release as well but wasn't surprised. The press release said the instant coffee market is a $17 billion global market - if I'm remembering correctly Nescafe is the market share leader in the instant segment. Starbuck's is going up against some stiff competition, hoping to switch some pretty loyal users to the Starbuck's brand. To add a little perspective, in 2008, Nescafe (they offer much more than instant coffee) was ranked as #28 out of the 100 Best Global Brands valued by Interbrand. Starbuck's ranked #85 on that same list.
Starbuck's has been feeling the economic crunch for a while now. They've been feeling competition from lower price point outlets: small and large coffee companies, fast-food operators, and mom and pops. And, instead of that daily stop at Starbucks many consumers are having their cuppa at home. In the instant coffee segment, the super-premiums and speciality coffees have taken off among consumers. Starbuck's marketers have to find ways to boost those dropping earnings . The logical steps are to enter additional and growing segments.
A broad view of brand recognition is the extent to which a brand is recognized within a product class for certain attributes. Starbucks is not in the coffee business, or the food and beverage business, or even the retail business. It's in the fashion business. And Starbuck's knows this. Starbuck's is an experience. Starbucks is going to leverage it's brand recognition, or that "experience" in the instant coffee segment at the local grocery. The question is will this water down the Starbuck's 'experience'? Starbuck's marketers are pretty savvy folks. I'm sure they've thought pretty hard about this. And the press release stated Starbuck's has been working on this product development for 20 years. I doubt they are going to enter the instant segment with an inferior product. Now, having said that, what isn't inferior to an instant user and what is inferior to a freshly ground user are two different things. They are two completely different segments of the market.
As far as your question of whether or not Starbuck's is going the way of A&W with a few shops here and there and the main point of distribution through the grocer, again, remains to be seen. I doubt it though. That's a huge departure from Starbuck's over-arching strategy. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/13/2009 8:22:28 AM | re: Starbuck's , whatever floats their boat . Never been in one . When I heard what they charged for a cup , that was all I needed to pass . For the price of 4-5 cups of theirs I could buy a pound of "gourmet" from Barnies . 
Just a theory on my part SA , but I think A&W priced themselves out of walk-in businesses with their franchise fee .
Long John Silvers is another steep one . 2 have closed locally . Now it's drive all the way to the beach . 
100 grand + per year for the privelege of selling their product & making 'em more money , and you get to spring for all the rent/insurance/local fees , etc ???  | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/13/2009 8:26:41 AM | | I went to a Starbuck's once. I wasn't impressed with their coffee quite honestly. And the price? Way beyond what makes sense to me. I can drink both perked or instant. Nescafe is my instant of choice. And believe it or not? The neighbourhood dollar store sells perked coffee (flavoured) that is to die for! | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/13/2009 10:08:29 AM | Starbucks is such a SCAM. Does anyone remember with worldwide coffee bean prices went up. Everyone raised the price of their coffee. Starbucks citing the increase, of course increased prices.
Now coffee bean prices have dropped to below the point they were, before the increase.
Did Starbucks reduce coffee, or just keep the prices high to stiff their customers?
Matter of principle. I will never bother buying anything from them. Another poster was right. For the price of a couple cups, you can get a pound of gourmet beans.
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/13/2009 11:23:17 AM | We have a new Starbucks where I live, but normally I don't go there, it's too expensive and until recently, we had two locally owned coffee shops I preferred to support.
It's harder to resist going there now that the other places have closed, their building is on a hill above the lake and the view from the patio is awesome.
Instant coffee,, not for me, regardless of the brand, I think it's awful!
I guess I'll just keep making my 8 o'clock brand coffee at home and sitting on my back deck to drink it,, the view's not too bad there either.
tb | |
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Joined: 10/13/2007
Msg: 9 | |
| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/13/2009 11:38:38 PM | | Starbucks AKA Charbucks, their coffee always tastes burnt though its still better than anything served at Mc D's or 7-11. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/14/2009 1:51:56 AM |
It's harder to resist going there now that the other places have closed, their building is on a hill above the lake and the view from the patio is awesome.
TB hunny? How do you think they pay for such a fine establishment in such a nice area? Yup, they gouge their customers for coffee that truly doesn't taste good. Tis all built up on the hype to be honest. Least that is the way I see it. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/14/2009 6:19:59 AM | Well, I do know that Moonie, so I don't go there. I liked both the locally owned places and feel Starbucks with their prime location, probably helped put them out of business ~ this is a little town and couldn't support 3 coffee shops year round in this bad economic period.
Lone Star Coffee Roasters,,, was my Cheers kinda place ~ everybody knew my name and my favorite coffee bean. lol
The dilemma for me ~ it is now the only coffee shop left in town to meet friends, people watch, or what ever. . 
Yes, it's coffee is ordinary and over priced, I won't even buy it at the groc. store, when it's on sale and instant coffee, no way.
tb | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/14/2009 6:33:47 AM | I remember during my recession/depression, or as Cheech and Chong said...during my repression, I drank boiled coffee. So I can handle Instant coffee.
I just have a feeling, *bucks isnt going to be at my neighborhood Price Savers Club. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/14/2009 10:30:05 PM | I had the honor of trying Star*Bucks for the first time earlier in the week, it was a treat in a late day meeting at work (& I work 3rd) .. Liquid Crack??? I was up the rest of the day with the shakes, Is this normal for SB? (& this came in a box too!!??)
When coffee was high in the '70 & 80's I got used to drinking it weak, now I prefer it 4-5 scoops per 10-12 cup pot. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/15/2009 7:17:29 AM | I don't have an appreciation for coffee, so I'm always watching programs and getting advice about good coffee in order to serve something decent to my guests. This morning on the news, they were talking about a taste test that showed the store brand, 8 o'clock coffee, won the test against starbucks and other big name brands. Oddly, it is also the least expensive.
And since we are discussing coffee, I have questions for those of you who are connoiseurs. Does using tap water or bottled spring water make better coffee? Is there one type of drip coffee maker that makes better coffee than others? Does a drip type coffee maker do better if it is "seasoned" or is it better to completely clean it each time? Can you really freeze coffee to keep it fresh?
I get so many conflicting opinions I have no idea how to serve really good coffee. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/15/2009 8:08:11 AM | re: water , check the cappucino thread , Paz .
is it better to completely clean it each time?
once I start using one , I never use soap , just a scrubbing w/hot water .
I like Folger's "Original" , but that's just me . Go with the 8 to begin with .  | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/15/2009 10:09:46 AM |
And since we are discussing coffee, I have questions for those of you who are connoiseurs. Does using tap water or bottled spring water make better coffee? Is there one type of drip coffee maker that makes better coffee than others? Does a drip type coffee maker do better if it is "seasoned" or is it better to completely clean it each time? Can you really freeze coffee to keep it fresh?
Never heard of freezing it, but I do buy on sale & after it's opened it goes in the frig in plastic folgers containers that seal nicely.
As for the water, I can't see why not using tap water, though with the mineral/lime & salt content in the water around here I can see why one may want to use spring water. I am currently in the process of replacing most of my faucets that are 10 years old, the exteriors are like new but the insides are so siezed up from minerals, that it's impossible to replace the 'replaceable & warranteed' cartrages.
If you have an expensive machine you might not want to boger it up with mineral deposits. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/15/2009 9:01:13 PM |
This morning on the news, they were talking about a taste test that showed the store brand, 8 o'clock coffee, won the test against starbucks and other big name brands.
Depending on how the taste test was administered can skew the results. Remember the Pepsi challenge? Pepsi won legitimately but only a sip or two was administered in the testing. A sip or two doesn't have the same taste impact as a full cup. In a retest, when a full cup was tasted the majority of those tested found Pepsi too sweet. A lot of people went back to Coke. Just sayin. It's all about personal preference.
Yes, coffee can be frozen to maintain freshness longer. And the water used can make a difference in taste. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/16/2009 2:59:48 AM | | I just did my own taste test...Its not scientific, but I too enjoy 8:oo brand over Pepsi. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/16/2009 5:21:07 AM | I had no coke or pepsi this morning,, so I took the 8 o'clock coffee beans from the freezer, ground enough for a pot of brew and just poured the first cup.
Psst on Starbucks patio ~ it's raining this morning. 
tb | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/16/2009 8:32:44 AM | I'm not much of a coffeeholic, although my girlfriend is. I got her big assortment of different coffees from a vendor at the local farmers market for Valentines. The beans are from Honduras, free market, hand-picked and organic. She promised to have a lot of fun trying them out, and I think I did better than if I'd gotten her chocolate. 
I remember reading in the paper a few months ago that Starbucks was closing 400+ stores around the country. Makes me wonder how many they have left...
My one Starbucks story. Years ago, before Starbucks spread to the East Coast, I planned a visit back to Seattle. A co-worker, who was from Portland, begged me to bring her back a pound of Starbucks coffee. When I got back, I dropped off the coffee of in the office and the smell instantly filled the room. When she walked into the store she looked really cranky, not a happy camper at all. I watched her walk into the office. She came out a few seconds later with wearing an ear-to-ear grin, looked at me and said, "you are a god"! Then she went back in to, I assume, sniff more coffee. I guess Starbucks really was different back then.
What I've always found funny is that when Starbuck went all corporate, and started putting franchises everywhere, Seattleites stopped drinking the stuff. Seattles favorite chain became Seattle's Best coffee. Starbuck's figuered, if you can't beat 'em, etc. So they bought out Seattles Best. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/19/2009 3:54:03 AM | | Starbucks is good but Mc Donalds coffee is soooooooo good and much cheaper. Plus, they'll put in the cream and sugar for you. No one mentioned Tim Horton's. Now they have great coffee too. We have SpeedWay gas stations and 7-11's that also make great coffee so there's no way i'll pay Starbucks prices. As far as what I make at home, I just buy what's on sale and it's usually Kroger's brand. Not bad. I love coffee but since i'm old now I can't really drink it past 5 in the evening or I won't be able to sleep. lol I refuse to drink decaf. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/20/2009 7:05:30 AM | Im from Downunder and an avid coffee lover....go out for it everyday to one of my fave lil cafes........
But,the Starbucks coffee is sh1t.......!!
(Think they've all closed down...?)
Gloria Jean's is no better.......tasteless stuff,over priced but well marketed.
Im going to Psssst's place for a decent one.......
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/20/2009 8:03:07 AM | Am going to wade into the water on this topic. Not fond of STARBUCKS. How anyone can drink their coffee is beyond me. I have tried twice when I can afford to travel south to a big city. Still it is too strong. I like strong but REALLY!! Tone it down a bit and I maybe, might be encouraged to try another cup.
Best coffee is Horton's . No two ways about it. And besides that, being single as I am, I like the men gangs that go there in the morning.
Millie, up here in the Northwest Territories | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/22/2009 1:17:59 PM | I don't understand people saying Starbucks is $4-$5 a cup.
A large (venti) is $2.07 a cup. I think I paid $2.05 last time I was in Dunkin Donuts.
Yes if you buy a latte, cappuccino or a blended drink then you'll spend more. Prices were within 10 cents of other stores like Seattle's Best and other chains.
They roast their beans longer than most so that is where the burnt, charcoal etc taste comes from. | |
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| Starbucks goes Instant
Posted: 2/22/2009 1:29:02 PM | If your tap water has a lot of minerals it may make the coffee taste like crap.
I use filtered water. A fanatic would probably use distilled water.
French press is IMHO the best way to make coffee. You shouldn't freeze it.
Only buy what you can use in 7-10 days. Find a local roaster and buy fresh.
Grinder is more important than the machine.
Check out coffeegeek forum for more info than I could possibly type here. | |
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